In English, if we call something “peachy” it means we quite like it. It is sweet and nurishing like a fresh peach. Similarly, we say the customer is always right. You just can’t evolve into a higher being than a customer. The German word for customer (and Swedish too) is “kunde”. So it would only make sense if we would compliment a consumer by calling them a “peachy kunde”. But no! In Czech, this is something quite different. So when you go into a store and hear the clerk exclaiming that you are a “peachy kunde” you should not expect stellar service.

We have difficulties with simple things sometimes. What could be more simple than bread? Well, the initial “ch” sound of chleb is produced in the back of the throat. To some, it is the same noise as a man being strangled, which is not far from the truth. Here the bread can sometimes be dry, so try lightly clearing your throat..”ch”, and then licking the length of your palate to end with a voiced lip smack…”leb”.

“It is one”, meaning Whatever, it doesn’t matter, it’s all the same anyway. Used to diffuse criticism, or to show resigned agreement. Can sometimes be used to show contempt for the position and assertions of another. When spoken quickly, the two middle syllables can blend into one, resulting in a pronunciation of “toje-ehdno”
Jak říká Jirka Pallas: It is fuk! 🙂

My Brasilian girlfriend has never seen snow before, except on television. “It’s so beautiful,” she said, “soft and fluffy!” Well, I happen to know better. From bitter personal experience I can testify that snow, far from being beautiful, soft, and fluffy, is actually cold and wet. Yes, it’s true. While it’s attractive to contemplate on television, in real-life snow isn’t much fun at all. It sticks. It gets muddy. It re-freezes and turns into black ice on the roads. I think it is no coincidence that “sníh” and “smích” sound so much alike. This is because when sunny climate foreigners like me and my girlfriend venture out into the snow, it’s quite funny.